Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 2 · John Muir WayStage 2 →
Dunbar to Bo'ness
A flat 100 km road cycling route from Dunbar, East Lothian to Bo'ness through Belhaven, Aberlady and Levenhall, with 389 m of climbing. Mixed surface: 78% is mapped as paved and 20% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 100.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 389 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 10 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Dunbar → Bo'ness
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 389 m
- 100 km
Route description
- Dunbar
- Belhaven
- Aberlady
- Levenhall
- Craigmillar
- Marchmont
- Longstone
- Corstorphine
- Home Farm Cottages
- Bo'ness
Starting in Dunbar, the route heads north-west passing through Belhaven and West Barns, then continues past Whitekirk beneath Whitekirk Hill (74 m) at 12.5 km. It proceeds through North Berwick near North Berwick Law (187 m) at 18.3 km, Dirleton, Gullane, and Aberlady before reaching Longniddry at 35.7 km.
The route includes 26.7 km on cycle paths, 18.5 km on quiet streets, 15.3 km on paths, and 14.2 km on main roads, notably 9 km along the A198. There is 20% gravel or unpaved surface and 78% paved. Climbing features two main hills: a 2.2 km climb starting at 54.1 km with 42 m elevation gain, and a 1.3 km climb from 66.3 km gaining 63 m with a max gradient of 9% up to 112 m. The highest point, 113 m, is at 68.5 km.
Along the way, a longest section without cafe, shop or water of 12.9 km is between 5 and 17.9 km. Refuelling options include cafes at Dunbar (0.1 km), North Berwick (18.9 km), Gullane (27 km), and Edinburgh (56.8 km). Several bailouts by rail station are possible at Dunbar, North Berwick, Longniddry, and others with the final destination at Bo'ness served by a station at 96.1 km.
Highlights
- North Berwick Law at 18.3 km
- Whitekirk Hill at 12.5 km
- 2.2 km climb from 54.1 km
- Longest cafe/shopping gap of 12.9 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 54.1 km | 2.2 km · 42 m · 2 % · max 4.5 % | 86 m |
| Unnamed climb | 66.3 km | 1.3 km · 63 m · 4.8 % · max 9 % | 112 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 14.3 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 28% cycle path · 19% quiet street · 16% path · 15% main road · 22% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 14.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 8.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 29.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- A198 (9 km), Union Canal Towpath (3 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 78% is mapped as paved and 20% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 6% climbing · 7% descending · 87% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.7 km over 5% · 0.3 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8.1% at 69.6 km
- Longest descent
- 2.9 km from 71.3 km, dropping 70 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 522 cafés and restaurants, 114 shops, 11 water points, 10 petrol stations, 49 public toilets and 20 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · on the route
- 0.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 0.6 kmRigg Service Station · petrol station · 250 m off route
- 18.9 kmJ's Tennis Club Cafe · café · 30 m off route
- 19.5 kmBoots · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 38.4 kmDrinking water · 130 m off route
- 42 kmBayne's · bakery · on the route
- 42.2 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
- 48.9 kmBP · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 51.3 kmCosta · café · 80 m off route
- 56.6 kmThe Goddess Clinic · clinic · 40 m off route
- 57.5 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 70 m off route
- 59 kmLaid Back Bikes · bike shop · 40 m off route
- 64.1 kmFour Square Park Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 65.2 kmScotmid · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 72.4 kmMiller & Carter · restaurant · 40 m off route
- 80.7 kmToilets · on the route
- 81.3 kmQueensferry Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Dunbar (station), 560 m off route
- 20.1 km — North Berwick (station), 180 m off route
- 35.4 km — Longniddry (station), 910 m off route
- 44.6 km — Wallyford (station), 930 m off route
- 51.2 km — Brunstane (station), 60 m off route
- 61.9 km — Slateford (station), 260 m off route
- 80.6 km — Hawes Pier (ferry), 170 m off route
- 96.1 km — Bo'ness (station), 390 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — The Magazine (castle)
- 19.8 km — West Links Putting Green (attraction)
- 23.4 km — Dirleton Castle (castle)
- 29.8 km — Luffness House (castle)
- 67.2 km — Capybara (attraction)
- 76.7 km — Barnbougle Castle (castle)
Stay after this ride
- Richmond Park Hotel · hotel · 830 m from the finish
- Bo'mains Farmhouse · guest house · 2.5 km from the finish
- Kirkland House · guest house · 2.6 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Parkers (50 m), Sweet & Smoky (100 m), Dunbar Community Bakery (150 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (20 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Simply Treats (200 m), McMoo's (250 m), Pier Pizza (150 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Bo'ness Spinal Health Center (190 m), Boots (240 m)
Know before you go
- 12.9 km stretch with no cafe, shop or water between 5 and 17.9 km
- 14.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 8.7 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 20% of route on gravel or unpaved surface
